Method of controlling a pda phone and pda phone using the same

ABSTRACT

A method for controlling a PDA (personal digital assistant) phone is provided. A first interface configuration file and a second interface configuration file are provided. An interface selection command is received, designating the first or second interface configuration file. A first boot procedure is performed. The first or second interface configuration file is loaded and displayed as an operation interface of the PDA phone.

The present application is continuation of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/812,649 filed Jun. 20, 2007, the entire contentsof which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a PDA (personal digital assistant) phone, andin particular to a method of controlling a PDA (personal digitalassistant) phone.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects ofart, which may be related to various aspects of the present invention,which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed tobe helpful in providing the reader with background information tofacilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the presentinvention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statementsare to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

Recently, PDA (personal digital assistant) phones have been available toall. A PDA phone provides variable functions. To access these functions,however, complicated manipulation procedures are required, inconvenienceis incurred thereby. For example, to execute a function, a user scrollsthrough a hierarchical menu to execute the desired function.

In addition, function menu displayed in a user interface for aconventional PDA phone differs from a normal mobile phone. Users who arefamiliar with manipulation of a normal mobile phone may have trouble inusing the PDA phone. He or she cannot find a desired function itemsimply at a guess. For example, a Windows Mobile operation system, whichis common for a PDA phone, presents a user interface similar to a Windowinterface implemented in a computer system. The user interface presentedby the Windows Mobile operation system is widely different from a userinterface provided in a mobile phone. Accordingly, users who arefamiliar with manipulation of a normal mobile phone may have trouble inusing the PDA phone.

Accordingly, a new user interface is needed for a PDA phone to overcomethe described problem.

SUMMARY

Certain aspects commensurate in scope with the originally claimedinvention are set forth below. It should be understood that theseaspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summaryof certain forms the invention might take and that these aspects are notintended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the invention mayencompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below.

A method of controlling a PDA (personal digital assistant) phone isprovided. A first interface configuration file and a second interfaceconfiguration file are provided. An interface selection command isreceived, designating the first interface configuration file or thesecond interface configuration file. A first boot procedure ispreformed. The first interface configuration file or the secondinterface configuration file designated by the interface selectioncommand is loaded, and an interface specified thereby is displayed as auser interface of the PDA phone.

A PDA (personal digital assistant) phone is provided. A storage devicestores a first interface configuration file and a second interfaceconfiguration file. An input device receives an interface selectioncommand, designating the first interface configuration file or thesecond interface configuration file. A controller performs a first bootprocedure, and loads the first interface configuration file or thesecond interface configuration file designated by the interfaceselection command. A display device displays an interface specifiedthereby as a user interface of the PDA phone according to direction ofthe controller.

A storage medium for storing a user interface controlling program for aPDA (personal digital assistant) phone is provided. When the userinterface controlling program is loaded into the PDA phone, the PDAphone is directed to perform the steps of: receiving a first interfaceconfiguration file and a second interface configuration file; receivingan interface selection command, designating the first interfaceconfiguration file or the second interface configuration file; when thePDA phone performs a first boot procedure, loading the first interfaceconfiguration file or the second interface configuration file designatedby the interface selection command, and displaying an interfacespecified thereby as a user interface of the PDA phone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequentdetailed description and examples with references made to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a PDA (personal digitalassistant) phone.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an embodiment of a storage medium;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method of controlling a PDAphone;

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the procedure A of the method of controllinga PDA phone of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the procedure B of the method of controllinga PDA phone of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of the procedure C of the method of FIGS. 4 and5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more specific embodiments of the invention are described below.In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, notall features of an actual implementation are described in thespecification. It should be appreciated that in the development of anysuch actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project,numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve thedevelopers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related andbusiness-related constrains, which may vary from one implementation toanother. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a developmenteffort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be aroutine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those ofordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings which form a part hereof, shown by way ofillustration of specific embodiments. These embodiments are described insufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice theinvention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may beutilized and that structural, logical and electrical changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in alimiting sense. The leading digit(s) of reference numbers appearing inthe figures corresponds to the Figure number, with the exception thatthe same reference number is used throughout to refer to an identicalcomponent which appears in multiple figures. It should be understoodthat the many of the elements described and illustrated throughout thespecification are functional in nature and may be embodied in one ormore physical entities or may take other forms beyond those described ordepicted.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a PDA (personal digitalassistant) phone. As shown in FIG. 1, a PDA phone 10 comprises an inputdevice 11, a display device 13, a storage device 15, and a controller17.

The PDA phone 10 is a multifunctional portable electronic device.Generally, the PDA phone 10 implements a Palm operation system or aWindows Mobile operation system. Here, PDA phone 10 implementing WindowsMobile operation system is used as an example. The Windows Mobileoperation system provided by Microsoft presents a user interface similarto an interface of a computer system presented by Windows operationsystem. According to the user interface provided by the Windows Mobileoperation system, various functions provided by the PDA phone isarranged in a multilayer hierarchical menu for user reviewing andselection.

The input device 11 comprises input gadgets such as keys for receivinguser input. The display device 13 can be a display screen displaying auser interface and information. The storage device 15 stores a pluralityof interface configuration files in advance. For example, storage devicestores a PDA phone interface configuration file and several mobile phoneinterface configuration files. The PDA phone interface configurationfile specifying a PDA phone user interface defined by a PDA phonemanufacturer. Each of the mobile phone interface configuration filesspecifies a phone user interface simulating a phone user interface of aparticular phone type defined by a phone manufacturer. When input device11 receives an interface selection command, the controller 17 performs aboot procedure, loads the PDA phone interface configuration file or themobile phone interface configuration file designated by the interfaceselection command, and displaying an interface specified thereby as auser interface of the PDA phone.

In addition, contents of the interface selection command can be storedin the storage device 15 through index information such as a flag.Afterward, when the PDA phone is booted again, the interfaceconfiguration file that has been designated by a user is automaticallyloaded for default user interface. For example, the storage device 15stores a flag, specifying the PDA phone interface configuration file orone of the mobile phone interface configuration files designated by theinterface selection command as a default interface configuration file.Afterward, when the PDA phone is booted again, the stored interfaceconfiguration file associated with the flag is automatically loaded fordefault user interface.

A user can switches the user interface currently displayed by the PDAphone after the boot procedure has completed, and the designatedinterface configuration file has been loaded. In this situation, theinput device 11 receives an interface switching command. The controller17 determines whether the user interface currently displayed correspondsto the PDA user interface defined by the PDA phone interfaceconfiguration file or the mobile phone user interface defined by themobile phone interface configuration file. If the user interfacecurrently displayed corresponds to the PDA phone interface configurationfile, one of the mobile phone interface configuration files is loaded,and the mobile phone interface defined by the mobile phone interfaceconfiguration file is displayed as the user interface of the PDA phone.If the user interface currently displayed corresponds to one of themobile phone interface configuration files, the PDA phone interfaceconfiguration file is loaded, and the PDA phone user interface definedby the PDA phone interface configuration file is displayed as the userinterface of the PDA phone.

The method of the present invention, or certain aspects or portionsthereof, may take the form of program code (i.e. instructions) embodiedin a tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMS, hard drives, orany other machine-readable storage medium, wherein, when the programcode is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, themachine becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. The methodsand apparatus of the present invention may also be embodied in the formof program code transmitted over some transmission medium, such aselectrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via any otherform of transmission, wherein, when the program code is received andloaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machinebecomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. When implemented on ageneral-purpose processor, the program code combines with the processorto provide a unique apparatus that operates analogously to specificlogic circuits.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an embodiment of a storage medium. A storagemedium stores a user interface controlling program for a PDA (personaldigital assistant) phone, when the user interface controlling program isloaded into the PDA phone, the PDA phone is directed to perform a methodof controlling the PDA phone. As shown in FIG. 2, storage mediumimplemented in a PDA phone 20 is provided. The storage medium stores auser interface controlling program 22 for PDA phone 20. When the userinterface controlling program 22 is loaded into the PDA phone 20, thePDA phone 20 is directed to perform the method of controlling the PDAphone. The user interface controlling program 22 comprises receivingmodule 23 for receiving a first interface configuration file and asecond interface configuration file, and receiving an interfaceselection command, designating the first interface configuration file orthe second interface configuration file; a storage module 24 for storingthe first interface configuration file and the second interfaceconfiguration file; a controlling module 25 for loading the firstinterface configuration file or the second interface configuration filedesignated by the interface selection command when the PDA phoneperforms a first boot procedure; and a display module 26 for displayingan interface specified thereby as a user interface of the PDA phone.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method of controlling a PDAphone. The method of controlling a PDA phone can be implemented in thePDA phone of FIG. 1, and can be implemented by loading the userinterface controlling program stored in the storage medium of FIG. 2into the PDA phone.

In step S300, a plurality of interface configuration files are stored inadvance. For example, a PDA phone interface configuration file andseveral mobile phone interface configuration files are stored inadvance. The PDA phone interface configuration file specifying a PDAphone user interface defined by a PDA phone manufacturer. Each of themobile phone interface configuration files specifies a phone userinterface simulating a phone user interface of a particular phone typedefined by a phone manufacturer. In step S301, an interface selectioncommand is received, wherein the interface selection command designatesthe PDA phone interface configuration file or the mobile phone interfaceconfiguration file. Contents of the interface selection command can bestored through index information. The index information can beinformation such as a flag, specifying the PDA phone interfaceconfiguration file or the mobile phone interface configuration file as adefault interface configuration file.

In step 5302, a boot procedure is preformed.

In step 5303, after the boot procedure is started, the user interfacecontrolling program of FIG. 2 is loaded and executed.

In step S304, it is determined whether the user interface configurationfile currently used by the PDA phone is a default PDA phone userinterface configuration file set by a manufacturer of the PDA phone, andif so, the method proceeds to procedure A, otherwise, to procedure B.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the procedure A of the method of controllinga PDA phone of FIG. 3. In step S401, a boot procedure defined by amanufacturer of the PDA phone is performed. After the boot procedure hascompleted, a PDA phone interface configuration file defined by themanufacturer of the PDA phone is loaded, and a user interfacecorresponding to the PDA phone interface configuration file is displayedas a default user interface of the PDA phone (step S403). In step S405,it is determined whether an interface switching command is received, andif so, the method proceeds to procedure C, otherwise, the method returnsto step S403. The interface switching command can be a trigger signal,wherein input of the interface switching command can be implemented bypreset manipulation method, such as pressing a particular key exceeds aperiod of time, or other suitable manipulation methods. If the PDA phonecomprises a touch sensitive screen, the interface switching command canbe input by manipulating the screen in a preset way.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the procedure B of the method of controllinga PDA phone of FIG. 3. In step S501, the mobile phone interfaceconfiguration file is loaded as a default interface configuration file.In step S503, a user interface defined by the mobile phone interfaceconfiguration file is displayed as a default user interface. In stepS505, it is determined whether an interface switching command isreceived, and if so, the method proceeds to procedure C, otherwise, themethod returns to step S503. As described, the interface switchingcommand can be a trigger signal, wherein input of the interfaceswitching command can be implemented by preset manipulation method, suchas pressing a particular key exceeds a period of time, or other suitablemanipulation methods. If the PDA phone comprises a touch sensitivescreen, the interface switching command can be input by manipulating thescreen in a preset way.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of the procedure C of the method of FIGS. 4 and5. In step S601, it is determined whether the user interface currentlydisplayed corresponds to the PDA phone interface configuration file orthe mobile phone interface configuration file. If the user interfacecurrently displayed corresponds to the PDA phone interface configurationfile, the interface defined by the mobile phone interface configurationfile as the user interface of the PDA phone in step S605. If the userinterface currently displayed corresponds to the mobile phone interfaceconfiguration file, the interface defined by the PDA phone interfaceconfiguration file as the user interface of the PDA phone.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms ofpreferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover variousmodifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to thoseskilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims shouldbe accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications and similar arrangements.

1. A method of controlling a PDA (personal digital assistant) phone,comprising: providing a first interface configuration file and a secondinterface configuration file; receiving an interface selection command,designating the first interface configuration file or the secondinterface configuration file; performing a first boot procedure; andloading the first interface configuration file or the second interfaceconfiguration file designated by the interface selection command, anddisplaying an interface specified thereby as a user interface of the PDAphone.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first interfaceconfiguration file specifies a PDA phone user interface defined by a PDAphone manufacturer.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondinterface configuration file specifies a phone user interface simulatinga phone user interface of a particular phone type defined by a phonemanufacturer.
 4. The method of claim 1, further storing a flagspecifying the first interface configuration file or the secondinterface configuration file designated by the interface selectioncommand as a default interface configuration file.
 5. A PDA (personaldigital assistant) phone, comprising: a storage device, storing a firstinterface configuration file and a second interface configuration file;an input device, receiving an interface selection command, designatingthe first interface configuration file or the second interfaceconfiguration file; a controller, performing a first boot procedure, andloading the first interface configuration file or the second interfaceconfiguration file designated by the interface selection command; and adisplay device, displaying an interface specified thereby as a userinterface of the PDA phone according to direction of the controller. 6.The PDA phone of claim 5, wherein the storage device stores the firstinterface configuration file specifying a PDA phone user interfacedefined by a PDA phone manufacturer.
 7. The PDA phone of claim 5,wherein the storage device stores the second interface configurationfile specifying a phone user interface simulating a phone user interfaceof a particular phone type defined by a phone manufacturer.
 8. The PDAphone of claim 5, wherein the storage device further stores a flagspecifying the first interface configuration file or the secondinterface configuration file designated by the interface selectioncommand as a default interface configuration file.
 9. A storage mediumfor storing a user interface controlling program for a PDA (personaldigital assistant) phone, when the user interface controlling program isloaded into the PDA phone, the PDA phone is directed to perform thesteps of: receiving a first interface configuration file and a secondinterface configuration file; receiving an interface selection command,designating the first interface configuration file or the secondinterface configuration file; when the PDA phone performs a first bootprocedure, loading the first interface configuration file or the secondinterface configuration file designated by the interface selectioncommand, and displaying an interface specified thereby as a userinterface of the PDA phone.
 10. The storage medium of claim 9, whereinthe received and stored first interface configuration file specifies aPDA phone user interface defined by a PDA phone manufacturer.
 11. Thestorage medium of claim 9, wherein the received and stored secondinterface configuration file specifies a phone user interface simulatinga phone user interface of a particular phone type defined by a phonemanufacturer.
 12. The storage medium of claim 9, wherein the userinterface controlling program directs the PDA phone to further store aflag specifying the first interface configuration file or the secondinterface configuration file designated by the interface selectioncommand as a default interface configuration file.